Item: Volkswagen T-Roc R
Rating: 4
Author: Steve Huntingford

The entry-level petrol engine offers sufficient power and is definitely worth considering if you want to keep costs down. The three-cylinder engine produces 109bhp and will sprint from 0-62mph in 10.8sec, which is perfectly respectable. Better still, it has plenty of low-down shove and doesn’t struggle when accelerating up to motorway speeds.

1.0 TSI

Hatchback

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

T-ROC

Entry-level Life trim is our pick of the bunch, because it keeps costs down while also coming with plenty of standard equipment. That includes 16in alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, automatic front windscreen wipers, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, two-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, adjustable lumbar support, an 8.0in digital driver display and a 6.25in touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, DAB radio and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone mirroring.

Life

1.0 TSI Life 5dr

10-tsi-life-5dr

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Volkswagen T-Roc R

Volkswagen Tiguan R

Volkswagen Touareg R

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

The Volkswagen T-Roc R has a higher list price than its <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q2/estate/review/n18990">Audi SQ2</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/ateca/estate/review/n17969">Cupra Ateca</a> siblings, but we're not talking a significant difference, and it's actually slightly cheaper than the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/formentor/estate/review/n22100">Cupra Formentor</a> 310.

Likewise, it's the third most expensive of the foursome on <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/personal-contract-purchase-pcp-explained-car-finance-guide/n19714">PCP finance</a>&nbsp;(it costs more than the Cupras when bought this way, but less than the SQ2), without the gaps being big enough to be deal-breakers.

With four-wheel drive and nearly 300bhp under the bonnet, emissions are unsurprisingly high enough to put&nbsp;the T-Roc R&nbsp;into the top 37% tax bracket for benefit-in-kind (BIK) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/check-your-company-car-tax-rate/n1255">company car tax</a>. And although&nbsp;the official fuel economy is as healthy as 33.2mpg, you’ll have to drive pretty sensibly to get near that.

More positively, standard equipment is generous, with a list that&nbsp;includes 19in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, ambient interior lighting and adaptive cruise control.

In addition, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a> awarded the T-Roc five stars (out of five) for safety. An in-depth look at the results shows that the T-Roc is better at protecting adult occupants, child occupants and pedestrians than the SQ2 and Ateca are. The Formentor was also awarded five stars, despite being put through a more recent –&nbsp;and more challenging –&nbsp;version of the test.

The T-Roc R’s NCAP rating was boosted by its comprehensive safety kit, which includes lane-keeping assistance, road-sign recognition and an automatic emergency braking&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">(AEB)</a> system that can detect pedestrians as well as&nbsp;cars.

The regular&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-roc/hatchback/review/n17376">Volkswagen T-Roc</a>&nbsp;performed reasonably, but no more than that, in the&nbsp;2021&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2021-what-car-reliability-survey/n23397">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>, finishing 10th out of 20 small SUVs. Likewise, the&nbsp;warranty is nothing special at three years and 60,000 miles.

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After a brief pause while its turbocharger spins up, the Volkswagen T-Roc R accelerates with the kind of ferocity that would put many two-seat <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-sports-cars-2022/n24412">sports cars</a> to shame. And, because maximum pull is available from 2000rpm all the way through to 5200rpm, its gearbox doesn’t even have to shift up or down that often for you to make rapid progress.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/volkswagen">Volkswagen</a> quotes a 0-62mph time of 4.8sec, and we managed 0-60mph in 4.7sec using its standard-fit launch control system, which is designed to get you off the line with the minimum of wheelspin.

True, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q2/estate/review/n18990">Audi SQ2</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/ateca/estate/review/n17969">Cupra Ateca</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/formentor/estate/review/n22100">Cupra Formentor</a> 310 are similarly fast, but the T-Roc R sounds more exciting than those cars if you specify it with the Akrapovic sports exhaust system. It's just a shame this is such an expensive extra. The standard exhaust will still pop and crackle when you lift off the accelerator after hard acceleration, but it doesn't have anything like the depth of sound you get with&nbsp;the optional system.

The T-Roc R’s most decisive advantage is in the way it handles. From its quicker-reacting steering and tighter body control&nbsp;to its vice-like grip on the road, it feels more like a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-hot-hatches-2022/n17005">hot hatch</a> than a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-sports-suvs-2022/n20200">sports SUV</a> and will leave its sister cars behind on a winding road.

What’s more, that grip is spread evenly front to rear, and you can really feel the power being sent to the back wheels when exiting corners, helping to prevent the nose from running wide.

We've only been able to test&nbsp;the T-Roc R with&nbsp;optional adaptive dampers, which allow you to stiffen or&nbsp;soften the suspension on demand. But no matter which mode you’re in, you get less body lean than you do in the SQ2 or Ateca. The penalty for this composure is a constant patter, although the&nbsp;ride isn't&nbsp;harsh in the way that the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x2/hatchback/review/n19418">BMW X2</a>&nbsp;M35i's&nbsp;is.&nbsp;

The engine fades into the background at a steady motorway cruise, and wind noise is well controlled, but you do have to put up with a fair bit of road noise.

From Cain and Abel to Liam and Noel, there are plenty of examples of sibling rivalries getting seriously heated. And the Volkswagen T-Roc R is involved in a fight that fits with that tradition.

You see, it’s one of the most affordable <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-sports-suvs-2022/n20200">sports SUVs</a> you can buy, and competes&nbsp;for sales with three&nbsp;other models from the VW Group: the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q2/estate/review/n18990">Audi SQ2</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/ateca/estate/review/n17969">Cupra Ateca</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/formentor/estate/review/n22100">Cupra Formentor</a> 310.

What’s more, due to those family ties, all four&nbsp;share&nbsp;the same&nbsp;four-wheel-drive system,&nbsp;seven-speed <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/automatic-gearboxes-everything-you-need-to-know/n17022">dual-clutch automatic gearbox</a> and&nbsp;2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. That engine gives them 296bhp, except the Formentor, which gets 304bhp.

The $64,000 question, then, is does the T-Roc R make the best use of those mechanicals and put a&nbsp;bigger smile on your face than those three rival cars, while remaining usable for the everyday grind?

That’s what we’ll be considering in this review, along with how the VW T-Roc R stacks up in areas like practicality, quality and fuel economy. If you're interested in the regular, small SUV version of the model, you can read all about that in our full <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-roc/hatchback/review/n17376">Volkswagen T-Roc review</a>.

And of course, if you do decide to buy a T-Roc R, or any of its rivals, make sure you check out our free&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car? New Car Buying service</a>&nbsp;before you do so, because we could potentially save you thousands without the hassle of haggling. It features lots of good <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/sports-suv">new sports SUV deals</a>.

To match the muscular swagger of its exterior bodykit, the interior of the Volkswagen T-Roc R features a flat-bottomed steering wheel, a good few ‘R’ emblems and a pair of figure-hugging front sports seats.

Those seats hold you in place really well during hard cornering. Plus, they remain comfortable even after hours in the saddle, partly thanks to the&nbsp;wide range of adjustment they offer, including for lumbar support.

Thin&nbsp;windscreen pillars and a&nbsp;raised driving position mean&nbsp;you have a good view of the road ahead, too, although it's worth noting that&nbsp;you sit higher in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/ateca/estate/review/n17969">Cupra Ateca</a>.

Thick rear pillars restrict your view out of the rear window, but front and rear parking sensors are standard.

There’s the option of a rear-view camera or a bird’s eye view camera to make manoeuvring even easier, while bright LED headlights are standard and provide&nbsp;great illumination at night.

The one big disappointment when the T-Roc R first came out was the quality of the materials. However, this was addressed as part of the car's mid-life facelift, when it gained&nbsp;a soft-touch upper dashboard and a piano-black climate control panel. There are still some scratchy plastics, but they’re&nbsp;hidden better than before.

The T-Roc R’s infotainment touchscreen is&nbsp;easy to use, because its menus are logically laid out, there’s a rotary knob for scrolling up and down lists, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a>&nbsp;smartphone mirroring are standard.

The system is augmented by a large digital instrument panel in place of analogue dials. This is highly configurable and able to show you lots of useful information, including sat-nav mapping, the audio menus and trip computer.

The long list of standard equipment includes 19in alloy wheels, figure-hugging front sports seats, dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and a lane-keeping assistance system. However, we recommend adding the Driver Assistant Pack Plus, which brings additional driver aids.


Blends the decent practicality of the regular T-Roc with bombastic performance and stunning agility.

Even tall adults will have no issues with head or leg room when sitting in the front of the Volkswagen T-Roc R. The door bins are wide, too, and there are several useful storage cubbies dotted around the driver.

However, move to the rear and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/ateca/estate/review/n17969">Cupra Ateca</a> is significantly more practical, giving a couple of six-footers space to lounge, instead of leaving them with their knees touching the seats in front.

You get a bit more rear head room in the T-Roc R than you do in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/formentor/estate/review/n22100">Cupra Formentor</a>&nbsp;though, and while it's&nbsp;a bit of a squeeze to seat three people across the rear bench, it is at least wider than in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q2/estate/review/n18990">Audi SQ2</a>.

Like all four-wheel-drive T-Rocs, the R has a shallower boot than front-wheel-drive variants, due to the need to accommodate&nbsp;extra mechanical components below it. There’s room for only five carry-on suitcases, whereas the Ateca can take six.

The rear bench folds in a 60/40 split, but there’s no option to slide or recline the rear seat, or to upgrade it to a more useful 40/20/40 split.

The Volkswagen T-Roc R blends the decent practicality of the regular T-Roc with bombastic performance and stunning agility. It’s a lot more fun than most similarly priced sports SUVs.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Strong performance</li> <li>Precise, feelsome steering</li> <li>Agile, entertaining handling</li> <li>Reasonable ride comfort</li> <li>Smart and practical interior</li></ul>

Needing a&nbsp;practical load-lugger doesn't mean you need to scrimp on power and sporting prowess. In fact, most sporty manufacturers now have dedicated sports SUVs in their line-up with 0-62mph times to rival cars half their size.

Sports SUV

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Running costs that won’t break the bank </li> <li>Generous kit</li> <li>Pokey engine and tidy handling</li> <li>Spacious interior</li> <li>Boot big enough to cope with family life</li></ul>

The car-buying public has fallen in love with small SUVs, or crossovers as they’re often called, with thousands turning away from conventional hatchbacks in favour of something that rides that little bit higher.

Small SUV

Volkswagen T-Roc R review

Click here to take our 2023 Reliability Survey now >>

https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90474827/447c7608d1b7&rdt=7

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From Cain and Abel to Liam and Noel, there are plenty of examples of sibling rivalries getting seriously heated. And the Volkswagen T-Roc R is involved in a fight that fits with that tradition.,You see, it’s one of the most affordable sports SUVs you can buy, and competes for sales with three other models from the VW Group: the Audi SQ2, Cupra Ateca and Cupra Formentor 310.,What’s more, due to those family ties, all four share the same four-wheel-drive system, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. That engine gives them 296bhp, except the Formentor, which gets 304bhp.The $64,000 question, then, is does the T-Roc R make the best use of those mechanicals and put a bigger smile on your face than those three rival cars, while remaining usable for the everyday grind?That’s what we’ll be considering in this review, along with how the VW T-Roc R stacks up in areas like practicality, quality and fuel economy. If you're interested in the regular, small SUV version of the model, you can read all about that in our full Volkswagen T-Roc review.,And of course, if you do decide to buy a T-Roc R, or any of its rivals, make sure you check out our free What Car? New Car Buying service before you do so, because we could potentially save you thousands without the hassle of haggling. It features lots of good new sports SUV deals.,

Read the definitive Volkswagen T-Roc R 2023 review from the expert What Car? team. Check specs, prices, performance and compare with similar cars.

Volkswagen T-Roc R review

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